February 2014 Newsletter

National Network of Forest Practitioners: Engaging Underserved Landowners in Alabama and Mississippi

In 2011 NNFP launched the Southeast Forest Landowner Outreach Initiative (SEFLO) focused on assisting African American landowners in making the most from their forestland.

With almost 1500 underserved landowners reached thus far, NNFP is providing landowners with a higher level of understanding of forest management techniques. SFI supported NNFP's work in 2013 with a community grant that allowed them to continue outreach to landowners and introduce certification as a management tool.

For more information on their "Sustaining Rural Lands and Livelihoods" Initiative, visit woodlandtoolbox.org

This is a great example of how SFI and its partners are working with the Scouting program to further the education and utilization of sustainable forestry in Scouting. For more information about the project, contact Tim O'Hara with Minnesota Forest Industries and the MN SFI Implementation Committee.

2014 SFI RFP Closing Soon!

In January, SFI opened its Request For Proposals for the 2014 SFI Conservation and Community Partnerships Grant Program. Applications are still being accepted, but hurry - the RFP closes Friday, February 21, 2014.

This program is truely unique in that it uses SFI managed lands as living laboratories to foster research and pilot efforts to better inform future decisions about our forests. The program also builds on the fact that SFI is the only forest certification standard in North America that requires participants to support and engage in research activities to improve forest health, productivity and sustainable management of forest resources. This year's grant investments will focus on the role of sustainable forest management in carbon and bioenergy; forest health; water; capacity building; and wildlife, fish and biodiversity.

In 2014, SFI will award up to $300,000 for projects supporting sustainable forestry, bringing total 2014 investments to over $400,000 when previously awarded multi-year research grants are rolled in.

Inviting nearly 10,000 stakeholders to submit comments, SFI has opened up its second public 60-day comment period for the proposed SFI 2015-2019 Standard. Don't forget to submit your comments by March 6th here.

There's still time to register to attend a standard review workshop. Visit ourwebsite to learn more, and click here to register for one of these workshops:

In January, ATFS announced the 14 members of a new Independent Standards Review Panel (ISRP), a body of forest stakeholders that is charged with reviewing AFF's current Standards of Sustainability for Forest Certification Standards and recommending revisions to the AFF Board of Trustees based on public review.

SFI's Barry Graden is part of the ISRP panel that represents a diverse perspective ranging from government and private landowners to forest products companies and environmental organizations. SFI is delighted to have been invited to bring its conservation and sustainability perspectives to the table. The panel members will hold their first in-person meeting in Washington, D.C. in March to begin reviewing the current Standards and public comments.